Another year of star injuries, another year of first-round exits, and then a new year of hope for the future, the Los Angeles Clippers seem to have been playing the exact same script all the time.
101-114, the Clippers' final score of the season, they failed to extend the suspense of the series to Game 7. And this is the third consecutive season that the team has failed to break through the first round, and the "Big Four" seems to have reached a crossroads of fate.
If Harden doesn't stay with the Clippers, where will he go next?
In other words, if Harden chooses to leave the Clippers, his first choice for the next home is the Suns, and the third choice is the Lakers. Of course, the premise is that Clippers owner Ballmer lets Harden go and doesn't keep him.
But in reality, the Clippers, who have entered the offseason, are trying to keep every player.
Next season, Ballmer's new arena will be in use. Ballmer didn't want to deal with the fans in the first season of his new home stadium, and the dismal box office and revenue were obviously unacceptable to him, so they will continue to spend a lot of money to keep the core lineup.
According to a report from TA reporter Amik, Ballmer, who is paying $140 million in luxury tax this season, is not afraid to spend money and is willing to stay invested to keep all the core.
With Leonard already renewing his contract, George's stay has become the biggest problem. According to the report, George is expected to opt out of the $48.7 million player option and become a free agent this summer in an attempt to sign a new contract.
The Clippers had previously approached Paul George in an attempt to convince him if he could sign a contract with less than the maximum salary, but he refused. In other words, if the Clippers want to keep him, they will have to offer a four-year, $221 million early contract extension to satisfy him.
If the Clippers end up offering a contract that Grief is happy with, there is another superstar waiting for them, and that is Harden.
The reason why Harden left Philadelphia is simple, the untrustworthy Mogou and the contract without a maximum salary. Therefore, after coming to the Clippers, the maximum salary contract must also be the goal he pursues.
In fact, looking back at Harden's performance this season, his performance as the team's core backcourt, at least in the regular season, was very good. But is it worth a max-pay contract?
According to TA sources, both Harden and the Clippers are willing to continue working together this summer, but the length and amount of the contract are still undecided, and it is still unknown whether the two sides can negotiate it calmly.
If Harden, George, Xiaoka, and Wei Shao can lead the team to kill all sides in the playoffs, even if it is just to enter the Western Conference finals, Ballmer may not hesitate for a second and will give the big contract.
The anticipation of the coming year, the opening of the new arena, can make the Clippers sell tickets.
But in fact...... The first-round series was eliminated, Xiaoka was injured, and Harden played erratically, and the final result disappointed fans.
This has brought the negotiations between the two sides, which are about to begin in the summer, into an awkward atmosphere in advance. If the negotiations don't go well, the luxury battleship lineup of the Big Four will also become the swan song of Los Angeles.